“An argillite /ˈɑrdʒɨlaɪt/ is a fine-grained sedimentary rock composed predominantly of indurated clay particles. Argillaceous rocks are basically lithified muds and oozes. They contain variable amounts of silt-sized particle” A child knows that clay becomes soft and unstable when wet. And, that it shrinks and cracks when dry and expands when wet. Residents near the proposed French nuclear waste facility in Bure France have demonstrated that within 16 minutes the “argillite” clay proposed for high level nuclear storage dissolves into gravel clumps. This is because it is hard materials held together by soft materials.

(video link at http://www.villesurterre.eu) In a 26 Jan 2016 Press Release BureStop states that a fatal rock slide occurred in the underground galleries of the Bure Laboratory where Andra is doing research to bury high level nuclear waste at a depth of 500 meters. One person died and another was injured. Their thoughts are with the victims and those close to them (as should everyone’s thoughts be). While awaiting more precise information on the circumstances and consequences of the accident they raise points such as:If l’Andra can’t assure the security of its construction site, how can they claim to make secure for over 100 years the project which will include more than 300 km of galleries and 5 km of descent? If the nuclear waste site (Cigeo) is constructed, how could it avoid similar accidents, especially if, under the pressure of EDF, a low cost version is retained?

While l’Andra wants to present the Bure underground as an unshakeable strongbox (safe), this collapse clearly raises the question of the real stability of underground clay in which Cigeo was bored. If underground fractures, notably linked to the boring of the galleries, appears in the laboratory, what will happen when the underground storage centre is constructed and has an accident once it is full of radioactive waste?

This collapse confirms that the reversibility of the [nuclear waste] burial is impossible to guarantee.

While a bill has been proposed (“une proposition de loi a été déposée“) on the reversibility and the launch of the “pilot phase”, it is urgent to stop the nuclear waste burial project. This incident only confirms the extreme risks of this project, as opponents have warned for over 20 years.Expensive, dangerous and insane, Cigéo / BURE project must be abandoned immediately, and France must urgently make every effort to stop its production radioactive waste.

70 YEARS OF THIS IS 70 YEARS TOO MANY!WE HAVE TO END IT!WE SIMPLY HAVE TO END IT!

SCRAPE EVERY NUKE FACILITY OFF THE FACE OF THE EARTH, BURY WHAT'S LEFT DEEP, DEEP, DEEP AND WAIT CENTURIES, THOUSANDS OF YEARS FOR IT TO BEGIN TO GO AWAY!

NO NATION NEEDS NUCLEAR ENERGY WHEN THERE ARE SO MANY CHEAPER, EFFICIENT AND FAR LESS MURDEROUS MEANS OF POWERING CITIES, HOMES, BUSINESSES. AS WE SEE, IT'S KILLING SOME TRAGICALLY , BUT IT'S KILLING MILLIONS IN SILENCE EVERY DAY, BEGINNING THE SOMETIMES SLOW PROCESS OF DESTROYING LIVES FROM THE INSIDE, A PERPETUAL ONSLAUGHT, A NEVER-ENDING ATTACK ON HUMAN LIVES.

As always, the tea room is mighty grateful for Collins' efforts and dedication.

The UK Atomic Energy Authority's "terrible failure in terms of its duty of care towards the land around Dounreay", Scotland @ https://miningawareness.wordpress.com/2014/09/05/the-uk-atomic-energy-authoritys-terrible-failure-in-terms-of-its-duty-of-care-towards-the-land-around-dounreay-scotland/